Originally Posted by
cyclist5
Thanks for the advice. I'm probably going to get a used Trek 520 Touring bike. My only concern is the stem shifters which I worry will be harder to use than bar shifters (having to adjust your body). As for the weight I don't think I can do much about it. I'm a student and have several classes a day, so that means I need to carry 4 binders and two books as well as my laptop.
A Trek 520 would have come with bar end shifters or down tube shifters depending on year.
In my opinion a used road bike is your best bet. Get in it relatively cheap , see if you like it. If you don't, you should be able to get what you paid for it back out.
My main commuter is a '88 Trek 1000 that I paid 2 cases of beer for. I've since put over 15K miles on it, mostly commuting. Pannier and rack, but no fenders. When it's rainy I take the fender bike.